A blessing on the "trip that wasn't"

We were supposed to be traveling out west this week.  We had been planning on taking this trip for several months, traveling alongside Mama and Daddy.  But, sadly, Marvin came down with the same virus that got Jonathan a couple weeks ago and we just couldn't make the trip.  However, we heard from Mama and Daddy and learned of a blessing on the "trip that wasn't".  :)

We had reserved 2 rooms at a hotel in Rapid City, SD at the Advanced Purchase price.  We knew that room could not be cancelled and weren't really worried about it.  When Daddy checked in he let the front desk know that he was aware it couldn't be cancelled and they were apparently quite grateful that he wasn't pitching a fit.  (What on earth are people thinking to pitch fits for something they agree to up front??  Anyway...)  Daddy did, however, tell the front desk that what he wanted was for them to give that room to someone who came in during the evening who looked like they needed the room.  He wasn't totally sure they would follow through, but he hoped they would.

In the morning when Mama and Daddy checked out, they were greeted with this story...

Late that night a young couple came into the hotel looking pretty bedraggled.  The man had just been transferred to Rapid City to Ellsworth Air Force base.  Upon arriving in town they had gone to their housing only to discover there had been a water main break and they couldn't stay at their apartment.  They inquired how much a room for the night would cost.  When they heard, their faces fell and they turned to leave.  The front desk guy thought of Daddy's offer and called to him that there was a free room for the couple.  The airman started to protest and the front desk fella told him, "It's not free from the hotel, some guy here already paid for it and wants to give it away."  At that point, the airman started to cry.  They accepted the room.

When Mama and Daddy were hearing this story, they told the front desk attendant the final detail.  That room had been reserved for a decorated and disabled Vietnam vet and it just seemed perfect that the room was a blessing to that airman and his wife.

Makes the "trip that wasn't" feel much, much better.   :)